"We haven't got to the beginning of things yet," he interrupted,
following up the line of thought the Maluka had at first suggested.
"Before any trees are cut down, we'll have to dig a saw-pit and find a
pit-sawyer." Dan was not a pessimist; he only liked to dig down to the
very root of things, besides objecting to sugar-coated pills as being a
hindrance to education.

But the Dandy had joined the group, and being practical, suggested
"trying to get hold of little Johnny," declaring that "he would make
things hum in no time."

Mac happened to know that Johnny was "inside" somewhere on a job, and it
was arranged that Dan should go in to the Katherine at once for nails and
"things," and to see if the telegraph people could find out Johnny's
whereabouts down the line, and send him along.

But preparations for a week's journey take time, outbush, owing to that
necessity of beginning at the beginning of things. Fresh horses were
mustered, a mob of bullocks rounded up for a killer, swags and pack-bags
packed; and just as all was in readiness for the start, the Quiet
Stockman came in, bringing a small mob of colts with him.

"I'm leaving," he announced in the Quarters; then, feeling some
explanation was necessary, added, "I WAS thinking of it before this
happened." Strictly speaking, this may be true, although he omitted to
say that he had abandoned the idea for some little time.

No one was surprised, and no one thought of asking what had happened, for
Jack had always steered clear of women, as he termed it. Not that he